The immediate past Deputy President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege is in a dilemma over whether to remain with All Progressive Congress (APC) or rejoin the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), following his seemingly shaky influence in the APC.

While leaders in PDP are calling him to come back to the PDP, get the ticket on a platter of gold and pursue his governorship ambition in 2027, APC has been threatening him with sanction over his claim as the leader of the party in Delta State.

Delta APC, in a statement dated April 30, 2025, and signed by the publicity secretary, Valentine Onojeghuo, said with the entry of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori into APC, he has assumed the position of the party leader in the state.

The statement titled, “Delta APC Reaffirms The Position of His Excellency Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori As Leader Of APC in the State” said the position is not subject to debate or contention.

Delta APC said it is strange, arrogant and reprehensible for any individual to continue to arrogate or to parade himself as the leader of the party in the state in clear opposition to the present reality of the governor as leader of the party.

“Let it be known that such divisive tendencies will be firmly resisted, and anyone who seeks to undermine this position by continuing to parade himself as such will face severe sanctions from the Party” it warned.

But the former commissioner for Higher Education and Agriculture in Delta State, Prof Patrick Muoboghere, has told Omo-Agege to return to PDP and pursue his governorship ambition in 2027.

Muoboghere made the invitation while reacting to the mass defection from the PDP to the APC in Delta, stating that like a lion, Omo-Agege has been caged in his own den.

“He should not allow himself to be humiliated and pushed around in the APC, where his leadership is being undermined. The PDP is ready to welcome him back with open arms and support his governorship ambition and ensure he succeeds in his political endeavors.”

The PDP chieftain said the statements of the Vice President Shettima where he said, “Omo-Agege is my friend, work with him” is an insult to the senator whom he said had earlier released a press statement a day before Monday, welcoming Oborevwori to the party as a leader in the party but within 24 hours, he was told that he should queue behind the governor and work with him.

He described the scenario as an insult, degrading and demeaning to Omo-Agege, the 2023 Delta state APC Governorship candidate to have addressed himself as the leader of the party and his followers.

“Senator Omo-Agege made a statement on Sunday welcoming the Governor to the party in his capacity as a leader of the party in the state, but within 24 hours, he was stripped of his title and compelled to work with the Governor.

“The Governor is the leader of the party and Omo-Agege who has built the party and has been working hard to gather followers has just been stripped of his leadership and he is being chased away from the party. In any political party, after the governor, every other person is immaterial because everybody must follow the governor, and in this case, once the governor indicates interest to contest the election, there will be no primary election and the party will give him the ticket.”

Muoboghere reassured Omo-Agege and other potential returnees that the PDP is the right platform for them to achieve their political goals and aspirations if they so wish.

He also urged others that defected to the APC to reconsider their decision and come back to the PDP, where they will be valued and respected, noting that the PDP is committed to promoting unity, inclusiveness, and fairness in its political activities as it has always been

The Federal Government has summoned Vice Chancellors of affected universities and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to an emergency meeting scheduled for May 6, 2025, following disturbing allegations of unauthorised deductions from student loans.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, described the situation as extremely concerning, vowing that the government would leave no stone unturned in its quest to uphold transparency, protect public funds, and ensure students receive the full benefits of the loan scheme.

A press statement by Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Boriowo Folasade, said the Federal Ministry of Education has received with deep concern a media report alleging that some Nigerian universities made unauthorised deductions from funds disbursed under the NELFUND scheme.

The Minister stated that if proven true, such actions would constitute a gross violation of public trust and a betrayal of the government’s commitment to equitable access to education.

“In response, the Ministry is convening an urgent meeting on May 6, 2025, with the Vice Chancellors of the affected universities and the Managing Director of NELFUND. The meeting will aim to thoroughly investigate the matter, ensure full accountability, and reaffirm the Ministry’s zero-tolerance policy toward financial malpractice in the education sector.

“To reinforce this effort, the Ministry, in collaboration with the Athena Centre, will launch a compliance-tracking initiative and a countdown webpage to monitor institutional transparency. They will also offer technical assistance and introduce an Annual University Transparency Index to promote accountability and enhance the global relevance of Nigerian universities,” the statement said.

Additionally, it said a training programme will be organised for Bursars and ICT Heads of universities and polytechnics on the development and maintenance of an open-portal initiative.

“As part of our National Education Sector Reform Initiative (NESRI), governance remains the top pillar of our agenda,” Dr. Alausa said.

“We are committed to strengthening transparency, promoting responsible financial conduct, and ensuring that every kobo allocated for student welfare is used appropriately. Let me assure Nigerians that this matter will not be swept under the carpet. Anyone found culpable will face appropriate sanctions.”

Dr. Alausa further emphasised that President Bola Tinubu, who established NELFUND as a flagship initiative, made adequate budgetary provisions to support both students and institutions in a fair and transparent manner.

“NELFUND was created to expand students’ access to high-quality education and to support universities financially in a legal and sustainable way. Any attempt to exploit this fund is unacceptable and contradicts the President’s vision for inclusive human capital development.”

The Minister reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting public funds and ensuring that students receive the full benefits of all government education support schemes.

Calls for bold reforms in infrastructure, industrialisation, governance

President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has issued a sobering warning on Nigeria’s economic trajectory, cautioning the country risks long-term stagnation unless it confronts its chronic infrastructure and power deficits head-on.

In his keynote address delivered at the 20th Anniversary Dinner of Chapel Hill Denham in Lagos, Adesina painted the picture of a country full of potential but hampered by policy inaction and weak execution.

He urged Nigerian policymakers and investors to move boldly in reforming key sectors if the country was to reclaim its economic future.

The AfDB president stated, “Without reliable power Nigeria’s economy will be locked in a never-ending slow growth trajectory, without transformation. You cannot industrialise, you cannot compete, and you certainly cannot create jobs at scale if you don’t have electricity.

“Access to power is not just about lights, it’s about productivity, competitiveness, and prosperity.”

He stressed that electricity access will be pivotal in unlocking Nigeria’s digital economy, attracting data centres, enabling artificial intelligence applications, and lowering costs for small and large businesses.

Adesina said, “The digital economy cannot thrive on diesel generators. We must create a 21st-century grid, powered by clean, reliable, and scalable energy solutions. And for that, the private sector must be at the heart of the energy transition.”

Adesina called for structural reforms to encourage greater private investment in Nigeria’s energy sector. He identified areas needing improvement to include cost-reflective tariffs, enforceable power purchase agreements, and access to blended finance from multilateral institutions, like AfDB and World Bank.

He stated, “The market must work, investors need clarity, certainty, and contracts that are bankable. With the right regulatory environment, Nigeria can become a hub for green energy, not just for itself, but for West Africa.”

Adesina revealed that AfDB, in partnership with World Bank, had launched “Mission 300”, an ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people in Africa to electricity by 2030.

“Nigeria should position itself to be a major beneficiary of this, it is time to accelerate electrification with urgency and scale,” he said.

Beyond the power sector, Adesina warned that Nigeria’s broader infrastructure shortfall was impeding industrial growth and regional competitiveness.

He called for renewed efforts to mobilise long-term capital, especially pension and sovereign wealth funds, into infrastructure as an asset class.

According to him, “Nigeria must build world-class infrastructure, from highways to railways, speed trains, airports, seaports, telecoms, and broadband connectivity.

“If we do not fix our logistics bottlenecks, we will continue to lose in the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

He added, “Let us be clear, no investor will stay in a market where they cannot move goods efficiently or communicate seamlessly. Infrastructure is not a luxury. It is the foundation of every competitive economy.”

Adesina urged Nigeria to adopt modern financing models, such as “originate-to-distribute”, and de-risk infrastructure projects to make them more bankable. He also called for deeper local capital markets and the expansion of local currency financing for large-scale projects.

Turning to manufacturing, the AfDB president lamented Nigeria’s declining industrial capacity, stating that the country’s manufacturing export value per capita is just $160, a far cry from Vietnam’s $3,600 or Malaysia’s $7,100.

He said, “In the 1980s, Nigeria showed signs of becoming a manufacturing giant. We assembled cars, produced textiles, and processed agricultural goods. Today, much of that has vanished. We lost ground, and others took our place.”

Adesina said Nigeria missed the opportunity to become an auto-manufacturing powerhouse, a role South Africa now played on the continent.

He stressed that Nigeria must urgently industrialise by linking its raw materials to finished products, developing industrial zones, and improving the ease of doing business.

“Every barrel of oil, every ton of cassava or cocoa, should not just be exported raw,” he said. “We must add value at home. That is how you create jobs, grow GDP, and build economic resilience.”

In addition, Adesina stressed the need for a knowledge-driven economy built on science, technology, and innovation.

He said, “Nigeria must invest in its universities and research institutions, and reverse the brain drain by creating an environment where talent can thrive at home.”

He also pointed to agriculture as a transformational opportunity. Through initiatives like the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), a $1.3 billion programmeco-financed by the AfDB, Islamic Development Bank, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, Adesina said Nigeria could become a major player in global food markets.

“These zones will turn rural areas into economic zones of prosperity, they will create millions of jobs for youth and women, and reduce rural-to-urban migration,” he added.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have informed a United States Court for the District of Columbia on Thursday that they needed an additional 90 days to produce investigation reports related to an alleged drug case involving President Bola Tinubu in the 1990s.

The two US federal agencies made the request in a Joint Status Report submitted to the court, along with the plaintiff in the case, Aaron Greenspan.

However, Greenspan, an American, rejected the proposal and instead suggested a 14-day extension for the FBI and DEA to produce the records.

The District Court, presided over by Judge Beryl Howell, had previously ordered the agencies, on April 8, 2025, to search for and process non-exempt records related to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted by Greenspan, with a report due on May 2, 2025.

Greenspan, the founder of the legal transparency platform PlainSite, had filed 12 FOIA requests between 2022 and 2023, seeking information on a Chicago drug ring that operated in the early 1990s.

His requests included records on Tinubu and three other individuals: Lee Andrew Edwards, Mueez Abegboyega Akande, and Abiodun Agbele.

Previously, the FBI and DEA had issued “Glomar responses” — a refusal to confirm or deny the existence of the requested records — but the court ruled that such responses were inappropriate in the instance.

In the Joint Status Report dated May 1, 2025, the FBI and DEA stated that they have begun their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of the records requested by the plaintiff and anticipated completing their searches within 90 days.

On his part, Greenspan insisted that the agencies should produce unredacted versions of already-identified documents by next week, while the remaining records should be produced within 14 days.

He also argued that the defendants failed to provide any valid rationale for why the search for the documents would take 90 days.

Greenspan and two lawyers representing the defendants, Edwards Martin, Jr. and Jared Litman, signed the report.

The report reads: “Aaron Greenspan (“Plaintiff”) and Defendants Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the only remaining defendants in this case, respectfully submit the following joint status report proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings, pursuant to the Court’s Order of April 8, 2025 (ECF No. 47).

“Pursuant to the Court’s order, the defendants FBI and DEA must search for and produce non-exempt records responsive to the plaintiff’s FOIA requests (FBI Requests Nos. 1588244-000 and 1593615- 000, and DEA Request Nos. 22-00892-F and 24-00201-F).

“The FBI and DEA have initiated their searches for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable portions of records requested by the plaintiff and anticipate completing their searches in ninety days.

“Given the years-long delay already caused by the defendants and the fact that many responsive documents have already been identified, the plaintiff proposes that the FBI and DEA complete their searches and productions by next week, or, at the very least, produce unredacted versions of the already-identified documents by next week, with the remainder completed in 14 days. The defendants provide no rationale for why their search for documents should take 90 days.

“The plaintiff intends to request reimbursement for his costs: the filing fee of $402.00 and $38.22 for certified mail postage, totalling $440.22.

“The defendants propose that the parties submit a joint status report on or before July 312025 to update the Court on the case status following the agencies’ search for responsive, non-exempt, reasonably segregable records requested by the plaintiff. The plaintiff proposes that they submit a joint status report on or before May 31, 2025.”

In a move that is set to redefine the face of broadcasting in Nigeria, TVC Communications has unveiled the country’s first set of Artificial Intelligence (AI) news anchors.

The media company made this known in a press release on Wednesday night. 

This groundbreaking innovation, spearheaded by its flagship brand TVC News, introduces AI-driven bulletins in English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin.

The move positions TVC Communications at the forefront of tech-driven journalism in Africa, as it aims to bridge linguistic gaps across Nigeria’s diverse population of over 240 million people.

According to the media company, the development aligns with its strategic goal of expanding coverage and delivering news in languages familiar to its wide-ranging audience. It, however, noted that the AI anchors were designed to complement the work of human journalists, not replace them.

“We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation in Nigeria’s broadcast industry,” said the Chief Executive Officer of TVC Communications, Victoria Ajayi. “Our AI news anchors will enable us to take our news coverage to the next level as we showcase our commitment to leveraging technology to drive growth using innovation.” 

Ajayi emphasised that the integration of AI is a support mechanism for human talent within the organisation, which she described as a “constellation of seasoned professionals.”

While the introduction of AI in media has sparked concerns globally ranging from misinformation to deep fakes, TVC Communications assured the public that proactive steps were already in place to mitigate such risks. These include watermarking of AI-generated content and implementing robust verification processes.

“Our commitment is to continue to raise the standard and maintain the highest sense of integrity, professionalism, and the assurance to our audience that we will always take proactive steps to mitigate the risks that these challenges may pose,” the company stated.

The organisation also noted that all AI-delivered content will be thoroughly reviewed and approved by a team of trained journalists and editors, in full compliance with the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.

Editorial oversight, the company added, will ensure that AI-generated content maintains accuracy, balance, neutrality, and cultural sensitivity. The fusion of technology and journalism, TVC believes, marks a leap toward the future of news broadcasting on the continent.

Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has said that the coalition spearheaded by Atiku Abubakar is dead on arrival.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Thursday, said the coalition will not work because Peter Obi will not agree to a political association that’s designed to support Atiku’s presidential ambition. 

Recall that in 2019, Atiku and Obi contested on a joint ticket as President and Vice Presidential candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Four years later, they contested on different platforms as Obi dumped the PDP for the Labour Party ahead of the 2023 election.

However, as the 2027 election approaches, Atiku, who has been calling for the formation of a coalition to wrest power from Tinubu, has invited Obi and other opposition figures to join him in the campaign.

Recently, the former Vice President announced that the coalition would adopt a political platform that guarantees good governance to unseat President Tinubu.

However, Olayinka has maintained that Atiku’s push for the coalition is to realise his presidential ambition.

“The moment you are doing coalition, and that coalition is to support one person’s ambition. Who is talking about coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and who is thinking about benefiting from coalition Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, how will coalition now work? The moment you are talking about coalition to to benefit Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, coalition will not work,” he said. 

Olayinka insisted that the coalition will not work because Atiku and Obi will not be able to agree on who the platform should present as its presidential candidate for the coming election. 

“Is anything working in coalition today? It has failed before they even started with it. They will tell you that, Alhaji Atiku will run with Peter Obi. Will Peter Obi agree to run with Atiku Abubakar? Will Atiku allow Peter Obi to run as President under the coalition? Or will Peter Obi allow another person to be presented as candidate? These are the issues. It cannot work and it will not work,” he said.

The FCT minister’s aide concluded that the fact that the coalition has not fully formed with identifiable presidential and vice presidential candidates indicates that the agenda is dead on arrival.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has traced proceeds from the failed CBEX crypto bridge exchange scheme to at least four countries, noting that full restitution to victims may be impossible.

EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday. He revealed that the agency had frozen a number of accounts linked to the fraudulent scheme and had made significant progress in ongoing investigations. 

“We have been able to block some accounts. We have been able to freeze some funds, which I will not be able to give you a figure, but some reasonable amount of funds, we have been able to freeze,” Olukoyede said.

He explained that a majority of the transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency and routed through wallets outside Nigeria’s jurisdiction, complicating recovery efforts.

“I will not sit down and tell you that we are going to restore every victim. It will become practically impossible because quite a certain amount of money has been dissipated and not within our system,” he said. “We have traced to three, four countries now. In fact, the principal parties behind the entire scheme… most of them are foreigners.”

Olukoyede added that three suspects are currently in custody and have provided “very useful statements.” He also confirmed collaboration with foreign counterparts to recover stolen funds and apprehend suspects.

In April, users of CBEX reported they could no longer access their funds, prompting widespread complaints. The Securities and Exchange Commission later revealed that the digital trading platform was unregistered.

On April 30, the EFCC declared Elie Bitar, a foreign national, wanted in connection with the $1 billion investment scam. A federal high court in Abuja also granted the commission permission to arrest and detain six CBEX promoters.

So far, at least eight Nigerians have also been declared wanted in relation to the scheme.